Bugs and Insects Theme for Preschool

Bugs and Insects! We use these terms interchangeably, though they are different! Bugs are onetypeof insect. True bugs, as they are called, have a straw-like mouth. Some true bugs are stinkbugs, assassin bugs and others. Ladybugs are NOT actually bugs! And spiders are neither bugs nor insects!

However, all crawly things are bugs and insects and they are creepy and cool at the same time to preschool children! Imagine all the preschool lesson plans that can come from a preschool theme like this!

Ladybugs...A Cautionary Tale!

One year, we decided it would be so cool to order ladybugs for the classroom! We would have them in our ladybug home, the children could observe them, journal about them, tell stories about them, etc.

So, they were delivered. When we opened the bag, low and behold, lots of ladybugs started crawling out of the bag...so cool.

Sadly, we found that half the ladybugs were, um, well, they didn't make the trip.

We talked about that and then decided we should lay them to rest outside in the front garden/lawn area. We did so, had a moment of silence for the ladybugs and when back into our classroom.

Two hours later, when the children were leaving, one of the parents commented on how Spring is definitely here. She could tell because of all the ladybugs outside today!

Apparently, the ladybugs were in a cold, somewhat "hibernative" sleep from the way they are shipped!

Moral of the story....let them warm up and wake up. They are not dead!

Where can I find Ladybugs?

This is the insect home we ordered. It comes with a coupon to order 15-20 Ladybug Larvae! This was awesome as we got to watch the entire life cycle unfold in our classroom!

Ladybug Home AND Ladybug Larvae (the home comes with a coupon to order the larvae).

Ladybug LARVAE ONLY. This is the tube with the larvae if you already have the ladybug home.

Just want Ladybugs? Here are some options for ladybugs (no larvae) and homes!

1,500 Ladybugs

150 Ladybugs

Garden Habitat

(no bugs included)

Let the Theme planning begin!

This theme is endless in the possible activities and adventures your preschoolers can participate in!

This Bugs and Insects Theme page is filled with preschool activities and ideas for all areas of your classroom.

You can either scroll down through this page to see all of the preschool activities for your Bugs and Insects Theme or click the link below to go to specific preschool lesson plans you are looking for.

Bugs and Insects Theme Block Center Ideas

Bugs and Insects Theme Circle Time Ideas

Circle Time is such a great time for children to learn the social skills of being together as a large group AND to learn more about your Space Theme!

Insect Inspection

Materials Needed: Show the children some pictures of insects. Then pass out some plastic insects (one for each child). Have them find these items on their insects:

All insects have 3 body parts: the head, the thorax (middle) and the abdomen.

All insects have 6 legs.

All insects have antennae. What do they use these for (touching and detecting odors!)

Some insects have wings. Does yours have wings?

Bug Chart

After reading a bug story and briefly looking at some non-fiction books with pictures of bugs, list on a chart if the children like bugs or not.

Compare the results- do more people like bugs or NOT like bugs?

Be a Fly!

Have the children lie on their backs and look at the ceiling and move their arms and legs...This is how flies walk on the ceiling!

If you were a fly, where would you fly to? Write down their stories.

Stories and Fingerplays

There are so many choices of books and fingerplays for this theme. Many are listed below under the Library section on this page. Be sure to include lots and lots of non-fiction books. Show the pictures and talk about them as a group!

Themed Snack Recipe Ideas to Cook Up!

Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation! Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific Space theme questions while making these fun snacks!

Bugs and Insects Theme Ideas to Transform Your Dramatic Play Area

Materials: Picnic basket, tablecloth or small blanket to have the picnic on; play food and plates and, of course, plastic bugs to interrupt the picnic with!

Bugs and Insects Dress Up

Purchase or make different types of bug wings, and bug legs (use extra fabric to sew together and stuff for the kids to wear and have 6 legs like an insect!).

Bug Scientist Laboratory

Take the curiosity of bugs into your dramatic play area! Bring your science table with your dead bugs in jars, plastic bugs and insects and magnifying glasses into the dramatic play area. Add goggles and home made journals for your budding scientists to record what they see!

Bugs and Insects Theme Large Group Games that help build their muscles while they have fun together

Parachute Your Bugs!

This idea was submitted by Vanessa M. from New Mexico, USA

Place stuffed animal type insects in the middle of the parachute to shake off! Vanessa's group places a stuffed grasshopper in. They have make the grass hopper "hop" by shaking the parachute and continue shaking until the grasshopper "hops" out!

You can do the same with other stuffed insects you have: make the butterfly-fly the bee-buzz, etc.!

Thanks Vanessa for this GREAT idea!

The next two ideas were submitted by Karen from Indianapolis, IN, USA

Bug, Bug, Insect

Play this as you would the infamous Duck, Duck Goose Game!

Bug/Insect Relay

Have the kids relay to the opposite side of the room to choose a bug or insect (small, plastic counter or stuffed animal bug!) and bring it back to the next person in their line!